Area Photos of Interest

Pictures Provided by Fonda West

Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge

The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge is a 3,000 ft footbridge across the Missouri River between Council Bluffs, Iowa and Omaha, Nebraska. It opened on 28 September 2008.

Interest in a landmark bridge across the Missouri River arose after Omaha and Council Bluffs began replacing their older crossings with girder bridges which do not have towers (most notably the Ak-Sar-Ben Bridge). The bridge is named after former Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey, who secured $18 million of federal funding for the bridge in 2000.

The bridge is north of the I-480 girder bridge and connects the Port of Omaha's Miller Landing in Omaha to One Renaissance Center in the former Dodge Park Playland in Council Bluffs, making it the first ever pedestrian bridge to connect two states.

LEWIS & CLARK MONUMENT PARK

This monument, north of Big Lake Park, honors the expedition of Lewis & Clark in 1804 and their historic meeting with the Otoe and Missouria Indians.

Union Pacific Railroad Museum

The Union Pacific Railroad Museum houses one of the oldest corporate collections in the nation. It includes artifacts, photographs, and documents that trace the development of the transcontinental railroad and the American West.

Historic Pottawattamie County Squirrel Cage Jail

The Jail was built in 1885 and was in continuous use until 1969. It was acquired by the Council Bluffs Park Board in 1971 for preservation, and was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 by the United States Government. The Historical Society led an effort in 1977 to save the jail, and today owns and operates the facility

The design and size of the Historic Pottawattamie County Squirrel Cage Jail make it a one-of-a-kind structure. It was one of 18 revolving ("squirrel cage", "human rotary", or "lazy Susan") jails built. It is the only three-story one ever built.

General Dodge House

The Historic General Dodge House was built in 1869 by Civil War General and Union Pacific railroad builder Grenville M. Dodge. The fourteen room Victorian period home is located in Council Bluffs, Iowa overlooking the Missouri River Valley. Made a National Historic Landmark in 1961, the house has been open for tour since 1964. The Dodge House sponsors many events throughout the year including a Victorian Christmas for the holiday season, the annual garden walk in the spring, and a tea every fall.

Rabbitts on Main street

Haymarket Square District is a historical retail area located in the central business district of Council Bluffs, Iowa. From the beginning, this important historical area served as another predetermined public art site on the City's Public Art Master Plan.

Again, Public Art & Practice, LLC lead the Artist Selection Panel through the selection process specified within the Plan, resulting in the commissioning of artist Deborah Masuoka to create three of her signature rabbit heads in silicon bronze. Installed in fall of 2007, Deborah's rabbits fit perfectly within the already existing flower-bed medians, inviting visitors to get out of their car and stay a while, whether that's to shop or just relax.

Lincoln Memorial Monument

Lincoln Memorial Monument Oakland & Lafayette Avenues Council Bluffs, Iowa. Monument stands on Lookout Point where Abraham Lincoln stood on August 19, 1859 and designated Council Bluffs as the eastern terminus of the Union Pacific Railroad. Beautiful panoramic view of Council Bluffs and the Missouri River valley

Kanesville Tabernacle

In the Kanesville Tabernacle, built by 200 pioneers in just two and a half weeks, Brigham Young was sustained as the second prophet and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The current log tabernacle is a replica of the original meeting hall. The tabernacle now serves as a visitors' center, where you can learn more about the epic history of the Latter-day Saints' migration westward.

Bayliss Park Fountain

The water features patterns, and lighting is impressive. We maintain the 8 arching nozzles, the interior ring of 24 jets, and replace the single central fountain spire with a sculpture with water shooting out the top. The sculpture, titled Well Spring, was created by Brower Hatcher from Providence, RI. The upper pool is a shallow half foot deep and the lower pool is replaced with a slope of rough granite insets that have water cascading over the surface to a drain. The pool edge is a granite seat wall, 18" high and is articulated with short columns or plinths.

Old Bayliss Park Fountain

Veterans Plaza honoring our country soldiers.

The monuments honoring veterans from the Civil War to the present. Veterans Plaza was sculpted by artist John Lajba. Admire the fountain and surrounding landscaping

Ruth Anne Dodge Memorial, "Black Angel"

Ruth Anne Dodge Memorial, "Black Angel" -Locally known, in Council Bluffs, as the "Black Angel," this statue inspired by visions experienced by Mrs. Dodge in 1916 on the three nights preceding her death. The solid bronze statue, commissioned by the Dodges' two daughters, was created by Daniel Chester French who call the Black Angel one of his finest works. French is known nationally for the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.